The Gravity Field and Plate Boundaries in Venezuela.

Abstract

Free-air and simple Bouger anomaly maps of the Venezuelan continental margin are presented. The major features of the free-air map are: the large lows associated with the deep sedimentary basins, -200 mgal in the eastern Venezuela basin and -164 mgal in the Maracaibo basin; the high of >300 mgal over the Venezuelan Andes; and a belt of highs associated with the offshore islands. The Bouger anomaly map shows a large flow over the Eastern Venezuelan basin and relative minimums over the coastal mountains. A minimum associated with the Venezuelan Andes is shifted to the northwest of the topographic axis and lies over the flank of the Andes and part of the Maracaibo basin. Using the gravity data, structural sections were constructed for a series of profiles across the Venezuelan Andes and Caribbean mountains. They show there is no light crustal root under the Andes, the relative mass excess is as much as 600 kg/sq cm, and there is an excess of low density material under the Maracaibo basin.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1972
Accession Number
ADA956087

Entities

People

  • Robert A. Folinsbee

Organizations

  • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundaries
  • Landforms
  • Low Density
  • Materials
  • Mountains
  • Offshore
  • Venezuela

Readers

  • Oceanography.